St. Vincent soup kitchen may stay on Cliff Street in Norwich

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich on Friday filed an application seeking to keep its soup kitchen permanently housed in St. Joseph School on Cliff Street, the city’s top planning official confirmed to The Bulletin.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich on Friday filed an application seeking to keep its soup kitchen permanently housed in St. Joseph School on Cliff Street, the city’s top planning official confirmed to The Bulletin.

Peter Davis, director of planning and neighborhood services, said the Commission on the City Plan will discuss the matter on Oct. 16, when a public hearing is also scheduled.

In a Wednesday email to city leaders, Davis outlined details of the process.

“They (the diocese) are aware that the existing temporary permits expire in January and if they do not have the special permit approval and zoning permit in place, they will have to cease the soup kitchen use,” Davis wrote. “They have been instructed to discussion the renovation/code requirements with Building Official Jim Troeger.”

St. Vincent de Paul Place has been operating out of the school since early July, when ongoing renovations to its long-time home at Railroad Avenue forced it to move. The ministry won a six-month variance to keep it functioning on Cliff Street, with the expectation it would return to downtown Norwich in January.

But on Sept. 14, the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, bishop of Norwich, alerted parishioners that the soup kitchen would not be able to return to Railroad Avenue and the diocese needed to find a new home for it.

Section 17.2 of the city’s zoning ordinances says “a special permit pertains to a use that may be generally compatible with the uses permitted as of right within a particular zoning district,” but must be regulated based on specific criteria and approval by the Commission on the City Plan, which must occur within 65 days of the public hearing.

As the city’s official zoning authority, Mayor Peter Nystrom said it would be inappropriate for any members of the council to weigh in on whether St. Vincent de Paul Place belongs in a residential neighborhood.

Michael Strammiello, a diocesan spokesman, wouldn’t confirm Friday that the former Cliff Street school is being sought as the headquarters of St. Vincent de Paul Place, but said officials are pleased with the way it has functioned since moving there in July.

“They’ve been operating peacefully and it’s on church property, which is a very good thing,” Strammiello said. “This is a very important ministry. The bishop likes to say this kind of ministry is the hands of God’s work.”

Strammiello described it as a “wonderful repurposing” for St. Joseph School.

Friday’s news follows weeks of speculation — and opposition — by a group of residents around the Cliff Street site, who say moving the soup kitchen there permanently not only erodes property values, but affects the quality of life in the area.

Resident Brian Kobylarz said he hopes aldermen decide to comment publicly on the matter.

Page 2 of 2 - “To side step the council on something so important runs contrary to the public interest,” Kobylarz said. “It should be something that is open to the entire community, because this could happen in anybody’s neighborhood.”

Strammiello said the diocese will comply fully with city regulations, and aims to continue its work while ensuring the ministry remains a good neighbor.

“Our intention is not to be anything other than the very best contributing part of this that we can, and we’ll see that through and be as cooperative as we can to ensure all due process is followed,” he said.